Arcadis, Pondera to prep EIA, docs for 4-GW Dutch offshore wind link

March 15 (Renewables Now) - Design and consultancy firm Arcadis (AMS:ARCAD) and Pondera Consult will be in charge of the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and permit applications preparation for the links that will connect the 4-GW IJmuiden Ver offshore wind area to the Dutch grid.

Dutch transmission system operator (TSO) TenneT Holding BV has selected the two companies for the job. Two underground high-voltage connections, each of 2 GW, are planned for the IJmuiden Ver area. It is part of the Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap 2030 which outlines how the Netherlands would reach 11.5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030.

Arcadis and Pondera have previously been involved in the evaluation of the best possible methods to bring power produced by future offshore wind farms to the Dutch mainland. As part of that study, the companies also looked into different options for reducing the stress on the grid when offshore wind output is high, including hydrogen production and other options to store power.